Happy 36th Birthday to Tony. Next year we'll have a bigger party.
Thursday, January 31, 2008
Move over, Barry Manilow, I can write jingles too!
I finished my jingle....see what you think!
A Jingle for Friday No Fish Fish Fries
No fish sticks or crab cakes or bass for me
No catfish or carp YUCK! They're history
My fish friends are on a Lenten holiday
Friday no fish fish fries before we pray
At St. Peter's we're a family of faith
As Lent approaches we want to create
An atmostphere for good works and prayer
Encouraging fasting and social interaction
So step aside tuna and salmon patties
Our meatless creations and food pantry donations
Will surely appeal to the folks in our pews
It's a great family deal you just can't refuse
(Music AND lyrics by me!)
Well that was my fun for yesterday afternoon. I sang it to a couple of fellow committee members over the phone, and they were both howling. So we are off and running to make these gatherings family friendly and get people to church on Friday nights in Lent during for the Stations. It helped me to think of Carrie's family the whole time. What would get them there? First you gotta have some good food that kids will eat, and a little fun. Then you close with community prayer. That should build our faith community; I am hopeful. I'm proud to be a Catholic! Too many of ours have left to other faith communities....good people in good communities. I am hopeful that with this approach we can keep more of the young families with us. We'll see.
Today....walk with Judy, PT, allergy shot, radiation, lunch with Sharon at the Tea Room, home to rest, Tony's birthday pizza tonight. Shaping up to be a full day.
I found out from Suzie Longo that she has appt. in St. Louis on Feb. 5 for her uterine cancer. I think this is another opinion, not sure. She doesn't say much, just the facts. Please pray for her.
Got two containters of my chocolate chip pecan cookies made last night for the two gatherings this weekend. I need to get a bag packed too; we'll be away Sat.-Mon. So rare that Mario will take a personal day off from school. Amazing what a little Mexican baby girl can make a grandpa do....
A Jingle for Friday No Fish Fish Fries
No fish sticks or crab cakes or bass for me
No catfish or carp YUCK! They're history
My fish friends are on a Lenten holiday
Friday no fish fish fries before we pray
At St. Peter's we're a family of faith
As Lent approaches we want to create
An atmostphere for good works and prayer
Encouraging fasting and social interaction
So step aside tuna and salmon patties
Our meatless creations and food pantry donations
Will surely appeal to the folks in our pews
It's a great family deal you just can't refuse
(Music AND lyrics by me!)
Well that was my fun for yesterday afternoon. I sang it to a couple of fellow committee members over the phone, and they were both howling. So we are off and running to make these gatherings family friendly and get people to church on Friday nights in Lent during for the Stations. It helped me to think of Carrie's family the whole time. What would get them there? First you gotta have some good food that kids will eat, and a little fun. Then you close with community prayer. That should build our faith community; I am hopeful. I'm proud to be a Catholic! Too many of ours have left to other faith communities....good people in good communities. I am hopeful that with this approach we can keep more of the young families with us. We'll see.
Today....walk with Judy, PT, allergy shot, radiation, lunch with Sharon at the Tea Room, home to rest, Tony's birthday pizza tonight. Shaping up to be a full day.
I found out from Suzie Longo that she has appt. in St. Louis on Feb. 5 for her uterine cancer. I think this is another opinion, not sure. She doesn't say much, just the facts. Please pray for her.
Got two containters of my chocolate chip pecan cookies made last night for the two gatherings this weekend. I need to get a bag packed too; we'll be away Sat.-Mon. So rare that Mario will take a personal day off from school. Amazing what a little Mexican baby girl can make a grandpa do....
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
The Lord will work out His plans for my life....Psalm 138:8
I begin this cold Wednesday morning by finishing my Bible study lesson. We are in Genesis this year, and in chapter 27, Esau is moaning to his father Isaac about Jacob getting his birthright. Poor Esau. He gave it up for a good meal a chapter ago, and now he wants it back! I am totally unfamiliar with how this story ends, but so far the lesson is a good one: Be careful what you give up; you might want it back later, and it will be too late! Well, with God it is never too late, so I am not looking ahead, but I am hopeful that Esau ends up with something satisfying rather than going away with his head hung low for the rest of his life. I am familiar with the Psalm that assures us that God has a plan for our lives and is working it out one day at a time. So my prayer today is this: Thank you for creating my life with purpose. Bring clarification and renewed confidence when I get off track or fail, and creativity when there's work to be done.
Speaking of work to be done, I am writing a song, a jingle-type that tells about our church's upcoming No Fish Fish Fries during Fridays in Lent. I am on the "party committee" at church now, and when I went to the meeting of this already formed group, I just told them that if you want young families to come to the Friday evening social gatherings which precede the Stations of the Cross, you've got to have something else on the menu besides fish. (just thinking of Carrie's family here and what her gang would eat) From there, we discussed that the fish from past years has actually been pretty bad, and attendance has gone down each week. So we all brainstormed and came up with theme nights....Mexican night, Italian night, American night, etc., and County Market would provide foods that fit with the theme of the night. We are officially "pardoning the fish" like the president pardons the turkey on Thanksgiving. So we hope the idea takes off, and families will want to socialize a little on Friday evenings of Lent in the lower level cafeteria, then go upstairs for Stations at 7. We'll see if this works. I am writing the Catholic Trivia game, and also some family discussion topics for the tables that have a Christian theme. So creativity....get going! There is work to be done!
It is official....Jan. 31, 2009, is Tony's birthday party. I got the room reserved, and Tony will arrange to get a DJ and karioke machine. If you were already gone at the end of my birthday party, you missed the discussion with those remaining that we should do this every winter at the end of January, helping with the winter blahs, the post-Christmas downer time....so I was saying outloud who else has a birthday or something we could celebrate in January. And from the karioke area, I could hear a faint voice.....ME....I DO....Oh yes, Tony, January 31 is your birthday. Well that settles it, and we're on, so mark your calendar and plan to bring your family for more fun.
So today is my bible study class, interdenominational group that meets at the Presbyterian church near my old house on Curtis Creek. Then lunch with the Faler girls if they make it on this cold morning. This afternoon I hope to bake my chocolate chip cookies for the couple of parties this weekend. And work on that jingle...let's see, the creative side of me already has a few lines in my head....
No fish sticks, or crab cakes or bass for me,
No catfish, or carp YUCK!, They're history!
My fish friends are on a Lenton holiday,
Friday No Fish Fish Fries before we pray.
Now just put a few chords together and add another verse, and I'm a songwriter! Silly girl.
Speaking of work to be done, I am writing a song, a jingle-type that tells about our church's upcoming No Fish Fish Fries during Fridays in Lent. I am on the "party committee" at church now, and when I went to the meeting of this already formed group, I just told them that if you want young families to come to the Friday evening social gatherings which precede the Stations of the Cross, you've got to have something else on the menu besides fish. (just thinking of Carrie's family here and what her gang would eat) From there, we discussed that the fish from past years has actually been pretty bad, and attendance has gone down each week. So we all brainstormed and came up with theme nights....Mexican night, Italian night, American night, etc., and County Market would provide foods that fit with the theme of the night. We are officially "pardoning the fish" like the president pardons the turkey on Thanksgiving. So we hope the idea takes off, and families will want to socialize a little on Friday evenings of Lent in the lower level cafeteria, then go upstairs for Stations at 7. We'll see if this works. I am writing the Catholic Trivia game, and also some family discussion topics for the tables that have a Christian theme. So creativity....get going! There is work to be done!
It is official....Jan. 31, 2009, is Tony's birthday party. I got the room reserved, and Tony will arrange to get a DJ and karioke machine. If you were already gone at the end of my birthday party, you missed the discussion with those remaining that we should do this every winter at the end of January, helping with the winter blahs, the post-Christmas downer time....so I was saying outloud who else has a birthday or something we could celebrate in January. And from the karioke area, I could hear a faint voice.....ME....I DO....Oh yes, Tony, January 31 is your birthday. Well that settles it, and we're on, so mark your calendar and plan to bring your family for more fun.
So today is my bible study class, interdenominational group that meets at the Presbyterian church near my old house on Curtis Creek. Then lunch with the Faler girls if they make it on this cold morning. This afternoon I hope to bake my chocolate chip cookies for the couple of parties this weekend. And work on that jingle...let's see, the creative side of me already has a few lines in my head....
No fish sticks, or crab cakes or bass for me,
No catfish, or carp YUCK!, They're history!
My fish friends are on a Lenton holiday,
Friday No Fish Fish Fries before we pray.
Now just put a few chords together and add another verse, and I'm a songwriter! Silly girl.
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
I'm going with it...
14 down, 19 to go, and I look good! That's what Dr. Yu said after looking me over. So I am going with it.
Two soccer games to go to tonight, Blake at 8 and Mario at 9, so I am going to take it easy this afternoon so I can go to them.
My only other accomplishment today has been the hour of physical therapy exercises that are mostly designed to heal my lungs. I think we are making some headway at long last. I have not had any infection or gunk since Jan. 16. Now that is a record for me, especially given the activities of the past weekend. Normally I would end up with an infection by this time. So with all this deep breathing exercise, weighlifting, and manipulative therapy, maybe I am getting somewhere. Praise God!
It is a rather quiet day in Quincy...other than the wind howling outside. Be safe everyone if you are traveling in this incredible wind.
Two soccer games to go to tonight, Blake at 8 and Mario at 9, so I am going to take it easy this afternoon so I can go to them.
My only other accomplishment today has been the hour of physical therapy exercises that are mostly designed to heal my lungs. I think we are making some headway at long last. I have not had any infection or gunk since Jan. 16. Now that is a record for me, especially given the activities of the past weekend. Normally I would end up with an infection by this time. So with all this deep breathing exercise, weighlifting, and manipulative therapy, maybe I am getting somewhere. Praise God!
It is a rather quiet day in Quincy...other than the wind howling outside. Be safe everyone if you are traveling in this incredible wind.
Monday, January 28, 2008
Hannah's birthday, birthday presents, present moment....
Hannah Grace Dede had a fabulous 6th birthday party. At the OTHER bowling alley in town, Casino Lanes, we gathered on Sunday afternoon for a couple of hours of kindergarten, 9th grade, Uncle Chris, Grandma Maymay (sp?) and Grandpa Jerry, and father and son bowling. There were many parent and grandparent onlookers as well. I did not realize (I am SO out of touch with the times sometimes) that you don't have to lift a finger to keep score in bowling any more. It is all done by the computer. Well, I remember back in the days of taking a hundred high school kids bowling during my PE classes, and the scorekeeping was as challenging as throwing the darn ball down the alley! So many discussions and arguments about scoring took time, so it took a lot of time to actually bowl a game. Well now, you just throw the ball down twice and go relax til it is your turn again! I didn't know...
AFTER bowling a game, the partyers went to the party area for Hannah Montana cake. Next came opening presents, and lastly, lining up to take a swing at the pinata filled with all kinds of goodies. There was a mom-supervised scramble for the goods when some little girl finally broke it open, and all the participants had a party bag full of favors to take home. One quote to note: as I took what I thought was a sneak picture with my telephoto lense of Tony standing in wait with the pinata, he yelled to me, "I believe in speaking softly and carrying a big pinata!" (Reference Teddy Roosevelt, please.)
Three sets of grandparents (lucky kids, those Dede children) helped Tony and Carrie clean up and pack up. Then as we were heading out the door, Hannah turned around, in her quiet but concerned manner, to say, "Did you get the presents?" Presents. Check. Happy birthday girl.
I stopped by the Dedes to pick up some leftover party turkey and cheese, rested a bit and relived a few great memories, then headed home to bed. Tucked in by 6PM, I was out until about midnight. I did have a couple of hours with the spirits in the middle of the night, so I downloaded a FEW pictures, (I've got to get this new digital habit under control!), then back to sleep until 6. I love my new air contraption. It is making a difference in my days.
I am going by the Tangerine today to see if I can reserve Sat., Jan. 31, 2009, for a repeat. This time we will celebrate Tony's birthday, which is Jan. 31. He deserves a celebration as much as anybody I know. So put that date on your calendar, provided I get the green light from Tangerine today. I will hire a DJ so Tony can just have fun and visit with everybody.
Speaking of visiting with everybody, the only regret I have that still matters to me this morning is that I didn't get to visit with everybody at the party. But I think there was a lot of visiting between people that didn't involve me, so that is something good to think about. I've got my cards and presents spread out on the kitchen table so Carrie can see them when she comes by. (When you get old, you can't help yourself. You do stuff like that.) I look forward to reading some good new books, enjoying the good smelling stuff, eating the sweet treats, using the gift cards, everything. And I will especially look forward to flying the friendly Southwest skies to see that beautiful little Mexican grandchild sometime down the road!
Now I get psyched for radiation. They give good cookies away in the waiting room at the hospital radiation department. That is becoming a highlight of the whole radiation experience. What kind of cookies will be in the baggies today? I take two for me, and two for Mario. It says you can. "These cookies are provided for radiation patients and their families." Good cookies make everything better, even if the cancer diet says cancer cells love sugar, so don't feed them! Ha! Are you kidding?
AFTER bowling a game, the partyers went to the party area for Hannah Montana cake. Next came opening presents, and lastly, lining up to take a swing at the pinata filled with all kinds of goodies. There was a mom-supervised scramble for the goods when some little girl finally broke it open, and all the participants had a party bag full of favors to take home. One quote to note: as I took what I thought was a sneak picture with my telephoto lense of Tony standing in wait with the pinata, he yelled to me, "I believe in speaking softly and carrying a big pinata!" (Reference Teddy Roosevelt, please.)
Three sets of grandparents (lucky kids, those Dede children) helped Tony and Carrie clean up and pack up. Then as we were heading out the door, Hannah turned around, in her quiet but concerned manner, to say, "Did you get the presents?" Presents. Check. Happy birthday girl.
I stopped by the Dedes to pick up some leftover party turkey and cheese, rested a bit and relived a few great memories, then headed home to bed. Tucked in by 6PM, I was out until about midnight. I did have a couple of hours with the spirits in the middle of the night, so I downloaded a FEW pictures, (I've got to get this new digital habit under control!), then back to sleep until 6. I love my new air contraption. It is making a difference in my days.
I am going by the Tangerine today to see if I can reserve Sat., Jan. 31, 2009, for a repeat. This time we will celebrate Tony's birthday, which is Jan. 31. He deserves a celebration as much as anybody I know. So put that date on your calendar, provided I get the green light from Tangerine today. I will hire a DJ so Tony can just have fun and visit with everybody.
Speaking of visiting with everybody, the only regret I have that still matters to me this morning is that I didn't get to visit with everybody at the party. But I think there was a lot of visiting between people that didn't involve me, so that is something good to think about. I've got my cards and presents spread out on the kitchen table so Carrie can see them when she comes by. (When you get old, you can't help yourself. You do stuff like that.) I look forward to reading some good new books, enjoying the good smelling stuff, eating the sweet treats, using the gift cards, everything. And I will especially look forward to flying the friendly Southwest skies to see that beautiful little Mexican grandchild sometime down the road!
Now I get psyched for radiation. They give good cookies away in the waiting room at the hospital radiation department. That is becoming a highlight of the whole radiation experience. What kind of cookies will be in the baggies today? I take two for me, and two for Mario. It says you can. "These cookies are provided for radiation patients and their families." Good cookies make everything better, even if the cancer diet says cancer cells love sugar, so don't feed them! Ha! Are you kidding?
Sunday, January 27, 2008
A Belated Birthday Surprise....
Well Saturday night was the amazing icing on the cake of my 57th birthday! I really thought I had celebrated in a big way on the 16-18th, ending with a steak dinner with Mario on Friday night. We never spend over $30 on dinner, and hardly ever eat steak, so I thought that special dinner ended the partying. Well, just shows what I know!
Carrie has many hidden talents, and she can sneak with the best of them. She was laughing with me early in the evening because of how many lies she told to pull it off. And I never suspected anything, not one thing! So she did an outstanding job, and if I have to surprise anybody with anything, I will know who to call for pointers!
And then there's Mario. Burger King? Why did we go to Burger King for supper before the party? I wasn't really hungry and had only half my burger. I guess that was his way of making sure we arrived at the right time. Well, it sure worked.
And then there's the phone call from Chris just an hour before the party. "Yeh, the weather is about 70 degrees here today. I played in a softfall tournament today. When you get home from the party, we will set up our web cams." So I got excited about the prospect of seeing the Yuma Camachos on the web cam.
So you can imagine my beating heart when he, Maria, and Makenna surprised me, along with my mom, sisters and their families, and great friends.
I just have the deepest joy this morning because everyone came and had a great time helping me celebrate my 57th birthday....some more! I really did have such a great time last week, and to add the memoies of this party, well it is a birthday I will always remember.
When I got home last night, I got in bed and put on my new breathing contraption (the CPAP), but no matter how hard I tried, I could not get my body settled down. You who have no problems sleeping, you have a real gift there. So at about 1am, I took the meds that would help me. And I got 5 deep sleep hours. So I will make it today.
I guess I skipped talking about Friday....I went to the all-school mass at QND. There was an excellent homily about St. Paul and his conversion. Then radiation, (12 down, 21 to go), then lunch with an old friend I used to work with on the Language Arts Committee in the Quincy Public Schools. We went to the Mexican restaurant and feasted for about an hour while talking about our families. We both learned things we didn't know about each other. We plan to celebrate the end of radiation on Tuesday, Feb. 26, at the Pier. I may be doing lots of celebrating at that point. I do now consider myself cancer-free, until they tell me something different. They took out what they know I had, and the chemo and radiation are killing anything that is left behind. I will continue to believe that and hold that in my heart with thanksgiving and praise to God....until somebody tells me something different!
On Saturday, I dusted some places in my house that had not seen the dust rag since Thanksgiving, I'm sure. If even then! I am taking allergy shots for a pretty severe allergy to dust mites, so I need to work harder to keep the count down here. I am glad I took my time yesterday. I piddled, just like Mom does, and I got the Christmas decorations put away too. It was time! I still have some snowmen and angels sitting around, along with the valentine stuff. We are in transition here I guess.
Today is Hannah's birthday party, not Tony's as I had been previously told. (one of those little lies!) So we will head back to the bowling alley for cake and presents, although we already gave Hannah her birthday presents on Thursday when they came to our house for dinner. So I have to get my birthday smile back on my face for Miss Hannah, who is now 6 years old. Chris will be here for a few hours today too, so it will be a very fine day. And I think after church we will have lunch with the Wrights at, where else, Wendy's, before they head back home. So another good day to look forward to.
I just feel so thankful today. So thankful.
Carrie has many hidden talents, and she can sneak with the best of them. She was laughing with me early in the evening because of how many lies she told to pull it off. And I never suspected anything, not one thing! So she did an outstanding job, and if I have to surprise anybody with anything, I will know who to call for pointers!
And then there's Mario. Burger King? Why did we go to Burger King for supper before the party? I wasn't really hungry and had only half my burger. I guess that was his way of making sure we arrived at the right time. Well, it sure worked.
And then there's the phone call from Chris just an hour before the party. "Yeh, the weather is about 70 degrees here today. I played in a softfall tournament today. When you get home from the party, we will set up our web cams." So I got excited about the prospect of seeing the Yuma Camachos on the web cam.
So you can imagine my beating heart when he, Maria, and Makenna surprised me, along with my mom, sisters and their families, and great friends.
I just have the deepest joy this morning because everyone came and had a great time helping me celebrate my 57th birthday....some more! I really did have such a great time last week, and to add the memoies of this party, well it is a birthday I will always remember.
When I got home last night, I got in bed and put on my new breathing contraption (the CPAP), but no matter how hard I tried, I could not get my body settled down. You who have no problems sleeping, you have a real gift there. So at about 1am, I took the meds that would help me. And I got 5 deep sleep hours. So I will make it today.
I guess I skipped talking about Friday....I went to the all-school mass at QND. There was an excellent homily about St. Paul and his conversion. Then radiation, (12 down, 21 to go), then lunch with an old friend I used to work with on the Language Arts Committee in the Quincy Public Schools. We went to the Mexican restaurant and feasted for about an hour while talking about our families. We both learned things we didn't know about each other. We plan to celebrate the end of radiation on Tuesday, Feb. 26, at the Pier. I may be doing lots of celebrating at that point. I do now consider myself cancer-free, until they tell me something different. They took out what they know I had, and the chemo and radiation are killing anything that is left behind. I will continue to believe that and hold that in my heart with thanksgiving and praise to God....until somebody tells me something different!
On Saturday, I dusted some places in my house that had not seen the dust rag since Thanksgiving, I'm sure. If even then! I am taking allergy shots for a pretty severe allergy to dust mites, so I need to work harder to keep the count down here. I am glad I took my time yesterday. I piddled, just like Mom does, and I got the Christmas decorations put away too. It was time! I still have some snowmen and angels sitting around, along with the valentine stuff. We are in transition here I guess.
Today is Hannah's birthday party, not Tony's as I had been previously told. (one of those little lies!) So we will head back to the bowling alley for cake and presents, although we already gave Hannah her birthday presents on Thursday when they came to our house for dinner. So I have to get my birthday smile back on my face for Miss Hannah, who is now 6 years old. Chris will be here for a few hours today too, so it will be a very fine day. And I think after church we will have lunch with the Wrights at, where else, Wendy's, before they head back home. So another good day to look forward to.
I just feel so thankful today. So thankful.
Thursday, January 24, 2008
Sad news....
11 down, 22 to go. I found out today that there is a chiller on the roof of the hospital that the maintenance men had to work on, and that is why the radiation machine was not working over the last two days. It rarely happens that the machine shuts down, I am told. Something about the tungsten overheating which somehow relates to that chiller on the roof. Anyway, I got one more treatment behind me and 10 seconds with the doctor today. His name is Dr. Yu. He has a great reputation, but to tell you the truth, I am not sure what he is doing for me in my treatment program. He takes a quick look at the picture of my boob, says things look fine, and away I go! The technicians do all the work from what I can see. I am sure the doctor has some important role behind the scene.
The sad news of the day is my long-time friend Suzie Longo's cancer has returned. It is in her uterus this time. She had breast cancer 7 years ago, and as we all know now, you can never say you are cancer free when you 've had breast cancer. She has a sonogram tomorrow which will tell her what happens next. It came to light because she had some bleeding over the weekend. She has been through a lot, and she has a lot of spunk. I hope she can beat this again.
The sad news of the day is my long-time friend Suzie Longo's cancer has returned. It is in her uterus this time. She had breast cancer 7 years ago, and as we all know now, you can never say you are cancer free when you 've had breast cancer. She has a sonogram tomorrow which will tell her what happens next. It came to light because she had some bleeding over the weekend. She has been through a lot, and she has a lot of spunk. I hope she can beat this again.
It's Thursday....the grandkids are coming!
I already have the mostacioli (sp?) sauce made for dinner, and I haven't had breakfast yet, so I must be ahead of schedule. Thursday night is my night to cook for the Dede clan, so I try to get to it early in the day, or else I get pizza. I look forward to seeing them every Thursday night. Make sure toys have batteries, etc. As Hannah once pointed out, it is important that Grandma has good toys. This is Hannah's birthday weekend, (she will be 6), so we will begin the celebrating with cupcakes tonight. The all-out party is at the bowling alley on Saturday evening.
Our nextdoor neighbor Bill got through his bypass surgery. That is a relief. He is home now but not having company yet. He is a good guy, and I love watching him putter in his backyard most of the spring, summer, and fall. I hope Mary is taking care of herself while taking care of him.
Chris and Maria will be home next weekend to baptize Makenna. I talked to him last night, and he related how Makenna likes being carted around the house to Daddy's dancing and singing. I would like to see that. I did relay to him that baby likes the motion of swaying like she did when she was in Momma's tummy. Along with the Dedes, we will spend next Saturday and Sunday in O'Fallon.
Mario's old college teammates get together every year for a party on Super Bowl Sunday, and this is the first year we will get to go since he doesn't have his indoor soccer league any more. (The new QU A.D. ousted the group, saying the gym is needed for indoor winter practices by the baseball team. New A.D., he could care less about Mario and the 100 or so guys and gals who have played in that old gym for years. Sad, but I am glad, because Mario can now do other things on these winter Sundays.) So we will baptize baby, celebrate, then later in the day go to Tom Pollihan's for a great time with the old QU teammates, who were also my friends. Wives will also be there, so I am sure to see some QU friends I haven't seen for many years.
I have missed radiation for the last two days because the machine is down. Missed one last week for the same reason. I am curious to know if this happens from time to time and will ask that question today. I guess I have to be a patient patient. Well, I am still at 10 down and 23 to go.
Our nextdoor neighbor Bill got through his bypass surgery. That is a relief. He is home now but not having company yet. He is a good guy, and I love watching him putter in his backyard most of the spring, summer, and fall. I hope Mary is taking care of herself while taking care of him.
Chris and Maria will be home next weekend to baptize Makenna. I talked to him last night, and he related how Makenna likes being carted around the house to Daddy's dancing and singing. I would like to see that. I did relay to him that baby likes the motion of swaying like she did when she was in Momma's tummy. Along with the Dedes, we will spend next Saturday and Sunday in O'Fallon.
Mario's old college teammates get together every year for a party on Super Bowl Sunday, and this is the first year we will get to go since he doesn't have his indoor soccer league any more. (The new QU A.D. ousted the group, saying the gym is needed for indoor winter practices by the baseball team. New A.D., he could care less about Mario and the 100 or so guys and gals who have played in that old gym for years. Sad, but I am glad, because Mario can now do other things on these winter Sundays.) So we will baptize baby, celebrate, then later in the day go to Tom Pollihan's for a great time with the old QU teammates, who were also my friends. Wives will also be there, so I am sure to see some QU friends I haven't seen for many years.
I have missed radiation for the last two days because the machine is down. Missed one last week for the same reason. I am curious to know if this happens from time to time and will ask that question today. I guess I have to be a patient patient. Well, I am still at 10 down and 23 to go.
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
Is It King Arthur's Day?
Yesterday was MLK's day, but Hannah was a little confused. Goes to show kids pick up bits and pieces of knowledge and information here and there....she asked Carrie if it was "King Arthur's Day" yesterday. So Carrie gave her the low-down on the day, and by evening, when I saw Hannah at Blake's soccer game, she had it straight. "What day is it today, Hannah?" I asked. "It's Martin Luther King's birthday," she responded. Next year maybe we will talk about who MLK is and who King Arthur is.
In case anyone is counting, 10 down and 23 to go. (radiation treatments) My hair is growing back. You can see more than peachfuzz. But it isn't growing fast. This process is going to take some time. I will still be wearing hats for awhile!
I am reading Mother Angelica's book that I borrowed from Mom. It is fun and very down to earth in its stories and suggestions for living. Last week I read about the Sacrament of Living in the Present Moment. This week the chapter is called Everyday Holiness. I love the following passage: it is called Listening Your Way to Holiness. This is what Mother Angelica says:
Some people are always complaining. Every time you talk to them you get an organ recital. It begins with their liver, then it moves on to the stomach, the heart, plantar warts, dandruff. Who knew there were so many organs? You know what holiness is? Listening to all that as if you had never heard it before. Holiness is listening to that joke you've heard twenty-five times and laughing at the punch line for the twenty-sixth time, while keeping your mouth shut. Holiness is putting up with the gripes of others with tenderness. All of that is holiness.
Well that is something to think about today.
In case anyone is counting, 10 down and 23 to go. (radiation treatments) My hair is growing back. You can see more than peachfuzz. But it isn't growing fast. This process is going to take some time. I will still be wearing hats for awhile!
I am reading Mother Angelica's book that I borrowed from Mom. It is fun and very down to earth in its stories and suggestions for living. Last week I read about the Sacrament of Living in the Present Moment. This week the chapter is called Everyday Holiness. I love the following passage: it is called Listening Your Way to Holiness. This is what Mother Angelica says:
Some people are always complaining. Every time you talk to them you get an organ recital. It begins with their liver, then it moves on to the stomach, the heart, plantar warts, dandruff. Who knew there were so many organs? You know what holiness is? Listening to all that as if you had never heard it before. Holiness is listening to that joke you've heard twenty-five times and laughing at the punch line for the twenty-sixth time, while keeping your mouth shut. Holiness is putting up with the gripes of others with tenderness. All of that is holiness.
Well that is something to think about today.
Monday, January 21, 2008
Back in the 60's the folk music was great!
Sunday evening, Judy and I went to Melrose Chapel for a 60's folk music sing-along. The choir from that church put on their beads, tye-dye shirts, and peace jewels, dusted off their various musical instruments, and hosted the event for about 50 of us music lovers. We sang Amazing Grace, Puff the Magic Dragon, Blowin' in the Wind, and This Land Is Your Land, among others. I was thinking, as I was singing and sometimes just listening, about the years while I was in high school that I sang in a folk group at 5:30 Sunday evening mass at Our Saviour's Church. Can you imagine being allowed to sing "C'mon people, now, smile on your brother, everybody get together, and love one another right now....." in church? Well, we sang it every week, along with Blowin' in the Wind and the like for at least a couple of years. Our electric guitars and drums resonated throughout the big old creeky structure, not to mention the powerful lyrics of these songs. I played my acoustic guitar, which was probably not heard above the rest of the noise, but I loved the feeling I had as a teenager to praise God and creation and send up my appeal for peace, love, and understanding every week. It is a highlight of my high school years, those memories. So anyway, last night, for about 2 hours, I relived it all. There were some fun songs too--if you have heard The Unicorn Song, which tells about Noah gathering animals for the Ark, you know it is a happy song. Last night, the animal sound effects the group added to the song made us all laugh out loud. I am glad we got out on one of the coldest nights of the year to be warmed by the folk music of the 60's.
A lot of my thoughts have been about the TEC that is going on this weekend. There are about 45 teen candidates, which is amazing. I have many adult friends on the team, and I hope they are not overwhelmed by all these energetic kids! Mario and I have bowed out of TEC. I can't do it anymore. We always joked that TEC is 3 days and 2 naps. The last one I was on, I couldn't keep up. So we figure we gave our part and will go quietly away. I still write wheat letters. I am amazed by the 70-year olds that are still doing this. Their dedication to enriching teen's faith lives in TEC is to be admired. I wrote a prayer for them for their weekend, which I hope they take to heart:
Let us put on Christ and travel through our secular society with confidence, conviction,
and the sure-footedness that we can walk in Christ's footsteps and be beacons of light
for the world.
Nolan is now calling me Grandma. Yesterday at lunch, he was at the other end of the table, and we had our own little game of "I See You" going on. As I left, he gave me not one, but two lip- smackers, and he told his mom, "I kissed Grandma over there." He is talking up a storm and lots of fun.
I am listening to the morning news, and Hillary and Barack are going at it, aren't they? This morning, Hillary is talking about their passionate spouses. And Bill's roll in the campaign is once again being demonstrated as Tom Brokaw is interviewing him...he is talking about how MLK would feel today about the leading contenders in the Democratic party being a woman senator and a black senator. He is still an eloquent and intelligent speaker.
I wish Mom didn't have to go through these painful spells, but it sounds like she got to the hospital in good time last night to ward off the worst of the past. I am thankful for that this morning.
A lot of my thoughts have been about the TEC that is going on this weekend. There are about 45 teen candidates, which is amazing. I have many adult friends on the team, and I hope they are not overwhelmed by all these energetic kids! Mario and I have bowed out of TEC. I can't do it anymore. We always joked that TEC is 3 days and 2 naps. The last one I was on, I couldn't keep up. So we figure we gave our part and will go quietly away. I still write wheat letters. I am amazed by the 70-year olds that are still doing this. Their dedication to enriching teen's faith lives in TEC is to be admired. I wrote a prayer for them for their weekend, which I hope they take to heart:
Let us put on Christ and travel through our secular society with confidence, conviction,
and the sure-footedness that we can walk in Christ's footsteps and be beacons of light
for the world.
Nolan is now calling me Grandma. Yesterday at lunch, he was at the other end of the table, and we had our own little game of "I See You" going on. As I left, he gave me not one, but two lip- smackers, and he told his mom, "I kissed Grandma over there." He is talking up a storm and lots of fun.
I am listening to the morning news, and Hillary and Barack are going at it, aren't they? This morning, Hillary is talking about their passionate spouses. And Bill's roll in the campaign is once again being demonstrated as Tom Brokaw is interviewing him...he is talking about how MLK would feel today about the leading contenders in the Democratic party being a woman senator and a black senator. He is still an eloquent and intelligent speaker.
I wish Mom didn't have to go through these painful spells, but it sounds like she got to the hospital in good time last night to ward off the worst of the past. I am thankful for that this morning.
Saturday, January 19, 2008
Margueritas for Everybody!
On Friday, I finished celebrating my birthday. This year was something else! It started on Wednesday with the Faler girls after Bible study. Jan, Laura, Kendall, and I nearly always go to Kelly's after our class and finish discussing whatever new lessons we learned at Bible study, and we also solve a few of the world's problems, along with creating a couple of new ones sometimes. Kelly's has a great salad bar with fantastic homemade cinnamon rolls, and I have noticed the Faler daughters begin their meal sharing one of those. Well Jan picked up the check, so I think that was my birthday present. You already know about the fun I had on the 17th. So yesterday, the whole shabang (sp?) wound up with lunch at the Country Club with Judy (she and Ray are members) and two other friends, Karen and Linda. They have all been very kind to me throughout my breast cancer treatment, especially Judy. She came all the way across town many times to give me rides when I was too weak to drive to places I needed to go for several months (sometimes first thing in the morning). That is a real true friend. Well anyway, we had a great lunch, and I got some beautiful multi-colored roses, lottery tickets (one was a $2 winner, so I will try with 2 more), and a huge bag of all the stuff you need to make lots of Margueritas. The bag was so heavy, it took 2 of them to carry it to my car. So when I am finished with all the treatments and all that is behind me, I am going to make Margueritas for everybody!!! Mario and I finished off the day with steaks at TGI Fridays. The flatiron steak with the Jack Daniels sauce is about the best I've had! It is only our 2nd time to go to our TGI Fridays restaurant. Eating Mexican is a lot less expensive, and you get a lot more food for your money. But if you want a steak, that flatiron steak is a good one. Today I am very tired. But I had a great time over the last 3 days. It was just a great birthday.
Friday, January 18, 2008
Mommy's birthday?
As a follow up to my story about Nolan and all his questions....this morning when Carrie got up, she found Nolan with a fork in the leftover birthday cake. When she spied him, he said, "Mommy's birthday?"
I had a great birthday yesterday. I shopped for a couple of hours with my birthday money. Got my David Phelps CD, then made a stop at TJ Maxx. I had seen a heart-shaped red casserole dish with cover that I love several days ago, but couldn't justify buying another casserole dish. Until yesterday. I also found DKNY jeans for spring, $42 on the label, but a great bargain at TJ Maxx at $16.99, and a great fit. Of course, I do need ANOTHER PAIR OF JEANS! I sent Fr. Joe $25 for his veterans; not sure if Mario intended that with my birthday money, but it made me feel good to share it. Then I finished my day's shopping after lunch at a gift shop--found a Christmas clearance item--a small Flavia plaque with one of her beautiful and simple messages: Blessed are we who have love, for love is everything. I am such a sucker for these things! I have a few birthday dollars left and will apply them to the massage I am having today. (More on that later!)
Nolan spent yesterday at his house passing by the birthday cake several times that Carrie had purchased for me and saying, "My cake?"
"No, Nolan," she would say. It's Grandma's cake. It's Grandma's birthday."
So when they came for supper and the birthday party last night, I sat next to him on the bar stool and began cutting the cake. He looked around the kitchen and said, "Papa's birthday?"
"No, Nolan. It's Grandma's birthday."
Next he said, "Daddy's birthday?"
"No, Nolan. It's Grandma's birthday."
Finally, he granted the day to me. "Grandma's birthday?"
"Yes, Nolan. It's Grandma's birthday."
We have a 2-year old teaser on our hands.
It was just a great day. It ended as I attended a meeting at church. I have been invited to join a new committee--it is basically the party committee. The idea is to tie spiritual activities with social activities....providing gatherings at church that families will come to and enjoy and get to know each other, then go upstairs to church for the Stations of the Cross, etc. We are starting with the Fridays in Lent, and I am in charge, along with Fr. Dan, of developing some Catholic Trivia to get discussion going among families at tables. I used to do this trivia with my PSR kids, so I will resurrect some of that work and probably create some new stuff.
Today, I get to go to radiation, then another birthday party with my friend Judy and whoever she has invited to join us. In between, I have a Swedish massage. I got onto this when a fellow church member gave me a gift certificate when I was in chemotherapy. WOW! I decided that I will have this massage once a month. At Physical Therapy, they tell me the massage is therapeutic. It makes the lymphatic and immune systems function more efficiently according to them. Sounds good to me! It is absolutely a wonderful thing. If you have not had a Swedish massage, I highly recommend it.
So another good day looking me in the eye. It will end with Blake's indoor soccer game at 4. I might be too whooped to make it. We'll see.
Nolan spent yesterday at his house passing by the birthday cake several times that Carrie had purchased for me and saying, "My cake?"
"No, Nolan," she would say. It's Grandma's cake. It's Grandma's birthday."
So when they came for supper and the birthday party last night, I sat next to him on the bar stool and began cutting the cake. He looked around the kitchen and said, "Papa's birthday?"
"No, Nolan. It's Grandma's birthday."
Next he said, "Daddy's birthday?"
"No, Nolan. It's Grandma's birthday."
Finally, he granted the day to me. "Grandma's birthday?"
"Yes, Nolan. It's Grandma's birthday."
We have a 2-year old teaser on our hands.
It was just a great day. It ended as I attended a meeting at church. I have been invited to join a new committee--it is basically the party committee. The idea is to tie spiritual activities with social activities....providing gatherings at church that families will come to and enjoy and get to know each other, then go upstairs to church for the Stations of the Cross, etc. We are starting with the Fridays in Lent, and I am in charge, along with Fr. Dan, of developing some Catholic Trivia to get discussion going among families at tables. I used to do this trivia with my PSR kids, so I will resurrect some of that work and probably create some new stuff.
Today, I get to go to radiation, then another birthday party with my friend Judy and whoever she has invited to join us. In between, I have a Swedish massage. I got onto this when a fellow church member gave me a gift certificate when I was in chemotherapy. WOW! I decided that I will have this massage once a month. At Physical Therapy, they tell me the massage is therapeutic. It makes the lymphatic and immune systems function more efficiently according to them. Sounds good to me! It is absolutely a wonderful thing. If you have not had a Swedish massage, I highly recommend it.
So another good day looking me in the eye. It will end with Blake's indoor soccer game at 4. I might be too whooped to make it. We'll see.
Thursday, January 17, 2008
You Still Look Like You--Who Said That?
My hair begins falling out on a Thursday. It is all over my pillow when I awake this morning. By Saturday afternoon, I am picking it off my shoulders, and it is falling onto the floor and into my soup. On Sunday morning, handsfull of the stuff comes out in the shower. I make the decision quickly. On Sunday evening in my kitchen, while my 2-year old grandson's hair is buzzed by his daddy, mine disappears too. After my husband shaves my head, I take the shortest path to a mirror. "You still look like you," says my daughter Carrie as she stands behind me. Such a simple statement, but also profound. I will call my book about my life with breast cancer, You Still Look Like You.
Breast cancer is not the only thing on my mind these days. However, until my daily radiation treatments are over, and they take this port out of my chest, I am required to deal with it every day. When I am through with the zapping machine and the port is removed, I will write my story. Then I hope to move on to something new and exciting. I don't know what that is just yet, but I can feel something in the air....
Speaking of the air....yesterday I received my CPAP machine. (Continous Positive Air Pressure) Mario described it to Chris as a "contraption." When I wear it over my face, I must look like a cross between a bad science experiment and an astronaut who didn't quite make it in the program. After years of poor sleep, waking up abruptly several times a night feeling like I need air, I had a sleep study done. I'd had this done before, several years ago. The oxygen machine I was given then made so much noise that my sleep problems were worse, not better. So I took it back, and that was that. But recently, I have been scaring myself. I have been waking up with my heart racing at 2 in the morning or feeling like I desperately need air. No bad dreams. Not running any races. But feeling oxygen depleted. So after the sleep study, the doctor evaluating the results said I had about twice as many "episodes" per hour as is acceptable. So last night, I slept with my new contraption. It takes some getting used to, but I only awoke one time. What an improvement.
Today is my 57th birthday. Mario greeted me with $100 cash to spend as I wish. I already have my list!!! I will send $25 to Fr. Joe for his veterans. Then I will shop the mall sales for those January bargains. A new David Phelps CD is waiting for me at Mustard Seed. And there are a couple of books I will get. I am meeting my old friends Suzie Longo and Sharon Mackenzie for lunch at the Park Bench. Then supper will be fun because the grandkids are coming and surely bringing me cake! I made Sam's Taco Soup this morning, and a friend who is still feeding us from time to time dropped by with homemade chicken noodle soup. Blake will eat that. I will have both. It's my birthday! Today I will eat whatever I want.
This is my first blogging adventure. I am not sure who, if anyone, will be interested in what I have to say, but I have always recognized the therapeutic value of writing. And writing is fun too.
Breast cancer is not the only thing on my mind these days. However, until my daily radiation treatments are over, and they take this port out of my chest, I am required to deal with it every day. When I am through with the zapping machine and the port is removed, I will write my story. Then I hope to move on to something new and exciting. I don't know what that is just yet, but I can feel something in the air....
Speaking of the air....yesterday I received my CPAP machine. (Continous Positive Air Pressure) Mario described it to Chris as a "contraption." When I wear it over my face, I must look like a cross between a bad science experiment and an astronaut who didn't quite make it in the program. After years of poor sleep, waking up abruptly several times a night feeling like I need air, I had a sleep study done. I'd had this done before, several years ago. The oxygen machine I was given then made so much noise that my sleep problems were worse, not better. So I took it back, and that was that. But recently, I have been scaring myself. I have been waking up with my heart racing at 2 in the morning or feeling like I desperately need air. No bad dreams. Not running any races. But feeling oxygen depleted. So after the sleep study, the doctor evaluating the results said I had about twice as many "episodes" per hour as is acceptable. So last night, I slept with my new contraption. It takes some getting used to, but I only awoke one time. What an improvement.
Today is my 57th birthday. Mario greeted me with $100 cash to spend as I wish. I already have my list!!! I will send $25 to Fr. Joe for his veterans. Then I will shop the mall sales for those January bargains. A new David Phelps CD is waiting for me at Mustard Seed. And there are a couple of books I will get. I am meeting my old friends Suzie Longo and Sharon Mackenzie for lunch at the Park Bench. Then supper will be fun because the grandkids are coming and surely bringing me cake! I made Sam's Taco Soup this morning, and a friend who is still feeding us from time to time dropped by with homemade chicken noodle soup. Blake will eat that. I will have both. It's my birthday! Today I will eat whatever I want.
This is my first blogging adventure. I am not sure who, if anyone, will be interested in what I have to say, but I have always recognized the therapeutic value of writing. And writing is fun too.
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